2015

That does indeed quite surprise our Gorilla Ivo: What exactly is that square thing in his section? It looks like a tree trunk – but it is yet somehow different. What Ivo doesn't yet know: The new tree trunk is no tree trunk. But a feeding machine – a so-called "Poke box". "Poke boxes are sturdy boxes with two transparent outer walls. Inside there are porous draws whereupon feed is provided on the top drawer via an automatically controlled box", explains Zoo vet André Schüle. "The animals will have to use their own tools to maneuver the goodies through all draws to the bottom."

Gerenuks Jess and Joe recently slipped into their own compound almost unnoticed. Rumours were already spreading about the new residents in July in the Antelope House: Since it was there that a stable was cleaned up, fresh hay heaped and a narrow, tall box unloaded.

Orangutan girl Rieke was born on 12 January 2015 and instantly made an impact throughout the city. The world in Berlin Zoo suddenly turned on its head: Her red frizzy fur, brown beady eyes and then this gaze…

On 12.06.2015, our first, second and third-year trainees (of both the Zoo and Tierpark Berlin) went on a three-day training trip to the zoos in Dortmund, Cologneand Duisburg. Each day we got the chance to visit one of the zoological institutions there. We were very excited to see how things work in other zoos. And which animals live there.

The narrow-striped mongooses live in the Predator House. There has recently been a new sugar-sweet addition. The round beady eyes curiously peak across mama's neck observing the visitors. The sweet baby is fully spoiled by mum Adele: It is cuddled, fed and licked from head to toe

The international tiger day (World Tiger Day) reminds us that the global wild tiger population is on the decline.
For example, only around 400 Sumatran tigers currently live in the wild. The situation is similar for the Amur tiger with only an estimated 450 animals.
Zoo Berlin is home to the Indochinese tiger. This is one of the six species of tigers still in existence and is endemic to the jungles of Thailand. Tigers are skilled hunters who can silently sneak up on their prey in the woods and suddenly pounce on them.

King Aru colonizes a new kingdom in Swabia. Male lion Aru moved to Zoo Augsburg yesterday. Female lion Tanya was already expecting him there. The two are still separated but can still see and sniff each other. Aru should acclimatise in peace first of all. He's getting on alright, he's eating and sleeping and now and then he gazes over dotingly to Tanya - but very secretly! There's hope for lion babies yet!

Off to Australia! Visitors to Zoo Berlin will feel like they've just entered the Australian outback. The wooden bridge will lead you conveniently onto the red continent. And to South America. But we certainly do not want to go there - not today at least. Today we're traveling to Australia, on a kangaroo expedition. Since we have some vibrant youth activity there!

The sun is shining, the birds chirping and the hippos laze in the sun and every so often, little ears twitch or mouths rupture into an enjoyable yawn. Nothing can disrupt the lazy siesta mood. Yet all of a sudden, something stripy with floppy ears scurries through the picture-perfect idyll. The hippos don't let themselves be disturbed - we, however, are irritated. What is that? We then take another glance: A young nyala. With floppy ears. Love at second sight!
"This can happen with antelopes", explains one animal keeper. The antelope calf is a girl and was born on 6 April 2015. It's still a baby. The floppy-eared animals should calm down with time. What a pity. We think it's pretty cute.